Backstory
Bikes Del Pueblo works to empower local communities through bicycle
education for mechanical and transportation self-sufficiency. BDP is a
worker-owned, not for profit organization that practices consensus
decision making . We provide open workshops that make available tools
and assistance for building, maintaining, and repairing bikes in safe
spaces. The driving principles of these workshops are inclusivity and
accessibility, recycling and do-it-yourself/do-it-together ethics. We
seek an awareness of the diversity of the needs of our visitors. We strive
to maintain and prioritize working relationships with residents and
organizations within City Heights as we grow.
Founded in 2007 we have been operating out of the City Heights Farmers Market since 2009 and are eager to move to a more permanent location where we can provide more consistent and reliable service.
What We Need & What You Get
- By getting a space we will be able to have more accessible bike
repairs, longer hours, and more educational workshops open to the
public. This will allow us to get many more bikes fixed and on the road!
This will also provide our volunteers ample space to evolve the
organization with many possible opportunities.
- Currently, we operate each Saturday at a local farmer's market. Although we love the market we find that it is difficult to grow and provide for the needs of our community with the current one day a week model.
- We would like to raise $10,000. This will give BdP the freedom to have 6 months rent as well as created a reserve, giving us time to stabilize a regular income to continue to sustain our space.
- This campaign will grant BdP the ability to provide donations based services. BdP believes in providing services to any and all in need. Our services should and will continue to be available everyone no matter their socio-economic status. We achieve this by operating with sliding scale pricing for parts, and free access to tools.
The Impact
- BdP has been working in the City Heights community since 2007. We are now ready to take the natural next steps in acquiring and sustaining a permanent place in our neighborhood. This progression is necessary in spreading the accessibility and sustainability we have been providing to the farmer's market community for the last 7 years.
- In addition to the Saturday market, we have worked alongside many valuable partners. One organization we would like to highlight our work with is the International Rescue Committee (IRC). This international non-profit works in refugee resettlement. Over 1,000 refugees are brought to San Diego every year and rely on public transportation to get to and from their job until they are able to purchase a car. BdP has been working with the IRC to provide refugees with working bicycles to get them around their new city. BdP has also hosted workshops for refugees to learn simple bike repairs and maintenance. This is especially important because many refugees, when they first arrive in this country, are on some sort of government assistance program and unable to pay for extra costs like bike repairs. Acquiring a full time space would allow for BdP to take on other projects similar to the one with the IRC.
- BdP also hosts bi-weekly build nights that are open and available to the public. BdP will offer guidance to anyone in need of simple to moderate repairs for their bicycle. We provide tools and any parts that are available.
Risks & Challenges
By obtaining a space, BdP will be better equipped to meet our mission. If we are unable to raise the necessary monies to get our space, we will set aside a reserve fund to continue to add to until we are able to meet our ultimate goal of $10,000. We want our potential funders to feel confident they understand where their much appreciated donations will be going towards. BdP strives for complete transparency with our volunteers, community, board members and supporters.
Other Ways You Can Help
- If you are unable to donate, we still need support and help spreading the word about our fundraiser. Your assistance distributing and advertising our month long campaign is showing your solidarity with BdP and that's all we could ask of you.
- Please share this via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, email, text and/or any other sort of distribution or social media you feel would help us reach more people. We want to meet our fundraising goal but we also want to share our mission with people who are unfamiliar with BdP and our services. We would love it, if at the end of the day, maybe we didn't meet our goal yet we reached many more people who didn't yet know about us or the work we do.
- To our current supporters in the bike community, thank you for your dedication and love you have shown us since our beginning in 2007. To those who have not heard of us before this campaign, we hope you come visit us at the Saturday market and talk to us about our mission and hopefully feel drawn to help support a grassroots organization trying to advocate for bicycle education and transportation self-sufficiency.
- We are hosting a series of fundraising events to act in conjunction with this Indiegogo campaign.
